Bay Leaf

Bay Leaf Benefits

Contents

Bay Leaves have a long and noble history. The ancient Romans and Greeks used to make crowns out of true Bay Leaves (Laurus Nobilis, Lauraceae) to crown great and accomplished people. These great people usually included kings, war heroes and Olympians. The term ‘baccalaureate’ originates from this giving of bay leaf crowns to signify success, as does the term "poet laureate".

Bay leaf not only has medicinal properties but is also used in cooking. The freshly dried bay leaves have a warm aroma, which is infused into cooking. The leaf is crushed before being used. The leaf is used for flavoring stews, dishes that need a long time to cook and soups. However, it is removed from the dish before serving.

The aroma of the leaves is much more noticeable than the taste. The fragrance of the dried leaf is herbal and floral.

Habitat & Types

Although a native of Asia Minor, the Laurus Nobilis tree can be found in the Mediterranean owing to its partiality for warm climates. This is generally referred to as Mediterranean Bay Leaf. The Bay leaf tree is an evergreen tree that grows up to a height of 12m. The growth rate is very slow. A mature bay leaf is approximately 5cm wide and 10 cm in length.

Health Benefits

Medicinally, the leaves of the Laurus Nobilis tree, also known as Sweet Laurel, have been used since the ancient times to treat problems associated with the liver, stomach and kidney. They were also used for treating bee and wasp stings. Nowadays, herbalists use bay leaves for treating various health complaints. Here are some ways in which bay leaves are used today:

Coughs & Colds

Placing a cloth soaked in water in which bay leaves have been boiled provides relief from cough, cold, bronchitis and chest infections.

Aches & Pains

Essential Oil of bay leaf is massaged on sprained areas and for relieving headaches. The oil also provides relief from swellings, rheumatic and arthritic pain.

Fever

Digestion

Bay leaves are used for treatment of digestive disorders. They reduce flatulence.

Diabetes

A study was conducted by the Department of Human Nutrition, Pakistan, to test the effect of bay leaf on type 2 diabetes. Forty people with type 2 diabetes were chosen for the study. They were divided into four groups and each group was given different quantities of bay leaf. At the end of the 30-day study, it was observed that all the subjects showed a marked increase in serum glucose. The conclusion was that using bay leaf reduces risk of cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 diabetes.

A similar study was conducted at the Department of Medical Technology, Zarqa Private University, Jordan. Similar to the above study, all subjects showed a remarkable decrease in levels of plasma glucose. Bad cholesterol levels also dropped. The conclusion of this study was that bay leaf not only improves insulin function but also reduces cardiovascular disease risks.

Active Ingredients

Bay leaves are leathery, short-stemmed and dry. They have a strong odor and a bitter taste. Bay leaves contain essential oils and a compound called Eucalyptol. According to a research conducted by Kansas State University, this compound is effective in eliminating bugs from the kitchen and repelling cockroaches.

There are nearly 81 compounds that represent almost 99% of bay leaf oil. It is believed that Polyphenol is an active bay leaf component. The in vitro active bay leaf component is soluble in water.

Medicinal Parts of the Tree

The leaf, both dried and fresh, and the fruit of the bay leaf tree are used for medicinal purposes and cooking. The leaves have a warm aroma and can be stored for later use.

Bay leaves yield an essential oil that is used in cooking and in treatment of various ailments. The essential oil that is obtained from the fruit is used in making soap.

How To Take

The leaf of the plant can be boiled and the water can be used for treatment of various medical problems.

The herbal tea, prepared using dried bay leaves, is also effective in treating digestive disorders.

Both the fruit and the leaf contain essential oils that are used in treating arthritis, headaches, joint pains, swelling and others.

Bay leaf capsules and tincture are also available as health supplements.

serum glucose and plasma glucose are good and bad thats why is says increase in good glucose and decrease in bad glucose Shelley :)

Shelley McD 01/01/2015 22:03

In the section about Type 2 Diabetes, I think there's a typo here: "it was observed that all the subjects showed a marked increase in serum glucose." The next paragraph says "decrease", which in context makes more sense.

herblover 09/12/2013 16:18

I have only used bay leaves to repel bo weevils and flour moths. Since I have parrots, flour moths are almost unavoidable due to their pellet mixes, seeds and nuts being contaminated with the flour moth egg when you buy them. Freezing only helps a little, so I went looking for another solution. I knew that bay leaves worked well in the kitchen for bo weevils, having had a problem years ago in an apartment I lived in. My mother told me about it and it worked very well. So when I was having trouble with the flour moths, my sister told me about the bay leaves. They work like a charm. You can lay them in the room and even put them in the food that you are storing and they won't harm anything but the flour moths. They keep them away. I am looking forward to trying bay leaves for other things now.